Meet the Artists
Merrill Collins
Phil Cordaro
Yvon Chausseblanche
Harrison Crenshaw
Michelle Crenshaw
Pope Flyne
Nicole Garcia
Laura Halladay
Joseph Hebert
Charles Moselle
Marshall Richards
Mary Sano
Chris Ray Collins
Merrill Collins
composer, keyboardist, producer, publisher
Music for artists like Merrill Collins is more than just a technique, a career or a lifestyle. It is a part of the essence of life itself
. “Music is naturally, organically and inseparably connected to life just as the shapes of DNA/RNA are spirals within our bodies," explains Collins. "Spirals have movement and constant flow and are an integral shape in nature." As such, the composer gathers her favorite musicians and creates the sounds of life.
Collins, who was born and raised in New Jersey, dedicated her life to music at age four. Her parents advised her teacher, a graduate of the Julliard School of Music, to help Collins develop her skills naturally. Years later, she attended Ithaca College School of Music and Humboldt State University where she completed her Bachelor's Degree in Piano, with a minor in composition. Merrill then completed a Master's of Music Degree from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music on a full scholarship.
The artist created Spiraling Music in order to produce and promote her unique and personal music, which features a catalog filled with various instrumental albums influenced by the work of artists such as Johann Sebastian Bach, Oliver Messiaen, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Herbie Hancock and many others. Many of her projects involve vocal tracks as well as instrumental ones.
Collins’ music combines her classical music training with contemporary improvisation. "My players often interact with each other like a musical conversation, where each person's intuition guides their commentaries and input," she explains. "We all work off the same basic chart, chords, melodies, and phrases which I compose, adding our various individual instruments to the collective sound."
Her impressive resume extends to other areas as well. She's performed and composed music for the 50th Anniversary of the United Nations, UNCHR Human Rights Day, Amnesty International, United Way, Pathways to Peace, UN World Habitat Day, Earth Day. Several albums are collaborations with master drummer Pope Flyne of Ghana. Flyne teaches a style of African dance known as Kuntum, which is a combination of traditional songs, drumming and dance from the Nzimah Tribe of the Republic of Ghana. Her most recent production, Minute of Silence, was featured in three languages in a global broadcast for the International Day of Peace.
Merrill's video collaborations with her husband, photographer Yvon Chausseblance, can be seen on YouTube. Merrill is available for live presentations and performances at conferences and events in the Los Angeles area. Check out Merrill's pages on SongPlacements.com, Taxi, and IMDB. Contact Merrill as the publisher of all Spiraling Music titles to negotiate synchronization licenses. For movie, film, TV & video game licensing for commercial use, contact ASCAP or Harry Fox licensing. Marketing management by Danie Cortese Entertainment. Merrill is a member of the American Federation of Musicians (LA local 47), the Association of Independent Music Publishers (AIMP), and a voting member of Grammy Foundation (NARAS).
Partial Discography:
- Cello & Piano Sanctuary with Joseph Hébert—Improvisations on Chants, Hymns, and Spirituals, meditative, appropriate for use in contemplative prayer or general healing, soothing, reflective time-out. "Inspiring;" "Tranquil;" "Touches the listeners heart."
- Christmas Presence—Piano and bells improvisations on Christmas carols, chants, and classics. Soothing, perfect for listening while driving in traffic, entertaining friends or having Christmas dinner.
- We Declare!—Instrumental world music soundtrack for songs,chants,dances, and multi-media projects based on "Towards a Global Ethic: an Initial Declaration" text.
- Everybody's Everybody—An instrumental soundtrack for the musical, written as world music for children. Ideal for setting up benefit performances. Focus: Africa
- Blossoms—A dozen roses that will never wilt… Beautiful, original, soothing, healing, meditative...aesthetically lovely...Steinway piano, harp, bansuri, shakahatchi, silver flutes, cello
- Soyez Gentille with Joseph Hébert—Harmonically rich improvisations on original melodies woven gently between cello and piano.. “beautiful, healing, meditative.”
- Cinema Musique with Nicole García—soundtrack music to evoke moods and scenes.
Reviews for Merrill Collins:
"An artist who is responsive to her world." —Today's Artists
"By all accounts moving and inspiring. . . ." —United Nations Center for Human Rights.
"An extremely eclectic talent ...her music breathes life into all who hear it...emotive and relaxing. And as a person, a lovely woman with a passion for life and her craft. I am honored to have met her and to have worked with her."—Danie Cortese, President/CEO of Danie Cortese Entertainment & Publicity Inc.
"The relaxation response induces a profound state of deep rest, which when practiced and applied to our daily lives, can alter how we respond to physical and emotional stress. The music of Merrill Collins is, in my view, important in facilitating the transition into this state of deep relaxation." —Dr. Michael Irwin, Cousins Center for Psychoneuroimmunology / Jane & Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience & Human Behavior
"Internationally recognized composer/musician Merrill Collins has created an outstanding musical performance, played by master musicians who blend their artistry together to create a deeply rich, harmonious experience that transports the fortunate listener to their own inner temple of peace. And that is just my personal experience!"—Ellasara Kling for the Qigong Alliance newsletter
"We played Merrill's album during a week-long meditation retreat at Esalen Institute, and everyone loved it, and said so. We got such positive feedback."—Lorin Roche, Ph.D., teacher & author (The Radiant Sutras, Meditation 24/7, Whole Body Meditations)
"Merrill Collins' music has become a great asset to my workshops and retreats. It is rare to find music that can be a graceful transition from meditation to movement. I particularly love "Soyez Gentille" and "Sanctuary," as piano and cello are my favorite instruments. Merrill's melodies move us in toward the heart and outward into soulful expression. Ahh..." —Camille Maurine, creator of Moving Theater, author (Meditation Secrets for Women, Meditation 24/7)
"The relaxation response induces a profound state of deep rest, which when practiced and applied to our daily lives, can alter how we respond to physical and emotional stress. The music of Merrill Collins is, in my view, important in facilitating the transition into this state of deep relaxation." —Dr. Michael Irwin, Cousins Center for Psychoneuroimmunology / Jane & Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience & Human Behavior
Yvon Chausseblanche
Photographer/Videographer/Events documentation
Yvon Chausseblanche photographed all the instruments in We Declare!, as well as the gorgeous roses on the Blossoms album. He provides media support services for Spiraling Music Artists products and website.
Yvon creates all of the Spiraling Music videos.
Yvon is married to Merrill Collins.
Phil Cordaro
Guitarist
Phil Cordaro's 25-year musical career includes credits as a Film & Television Composer, Producer and Studio Guitarist. Some notable credits include Primetime television shows King of Queens, The Agency, The Guardian and Party of Five; Films The Good Girl starring Jennifer Aniston, and 8 Heads in a Duffel Bag starring Joe Pesci and David Spade. He was also the lead guitarist on the single, Ready Set Go with Maverick Recording Artist Paul Oakenfold for the CD Bunkka which has been featured in the Motion Pictures Bourne Identity starring Matt Damon and Collateral starring Tom Cruise and Jamie Foxx. Phil has recorded and/or performed with Virgin Records Recording Artist, Rickie Lee Jones, Siedah Garrett (composer of Man in the Mirror and Keep the Faith for Michael Jackson, Country Recording Artist, Lila McCann, and Italian Recording Artist, Alesandro Safina.
Phil is working with Spiraling Music on the Lullaby Project.
Harrison Crenshaw 
Vocalist
Harrison Crenshaw is in his final year as a voice / music major at Loyola Marymount College. He is a singer in many of the world projects of Spiraling Music. His rendition of Minute of Silence was featured on the global broadcast of the 2010 United Nations International Day of Peace.
Harrison's contributions to Every Man, Woman, and Child made the recordings possible.
Michelle Crenshaw
Vocalist
A versatile and dynamic entertainer, Michelle Crenshaw has appeared on stages across the country and abroad from the Village Gate and Blue Note in Manhattan to the Folies Bergere in Paris. She has toured Europe several times, receiving rave reviews for performances in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Italy, Belgium, Holland and Denmark.
Learn more about Michelle at www.michellecrenshaw.net.
Michelle worked with Spiraling Music on Every Man, Woman, and Child
Pope Flyne
African Drummer
Pope Flyne teaches a type of African dance to schoolchildren of all ages, 1-12, called "Kuntum" (pronounced Kundum). Kuntum is a traditional combination of songs, drumming, and dance of the Nzimah Tribe of the Republic of Ghana. Once a year, they celebrate the Kuntum festival, which is a time for healing, repairing broken promises, friendships and marriages, and rejuvenating the strength of the people.
Pope has toured the U.S. and Canada as a drummer, and has recorded several cross-over CDs. He has produced albums of his unique drumming and song, which are distributed through Digital Synergy Enterprises. Pope now resides in Oakland, teaches drumming, and performs around the Bay Area. His website is www.popeflyne.com.
Pope works with Spiraling Music on the We Agree projects and on Cinema Musique.
Nicole Garcia
Violin
Nicole Garcia studied at the Idyllwild Arts Academy and spent a year at the Boston Conservatory, before earning her BA at UCLA, all on full scholarship. These days she is a world-class violinist, specializing in live performances, recording sessions, and A-list events. She has played alongside greats such as Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder and Herbie Hancock, and considers herself fortunate to count Michael Kamen and Quincy Jones as mentors.
Nicole has been on the road for the last few years, touring with Kanye West as his violinist and musical director. In this prestigious role, she was able to travel around the world, performing in Madison Square Garden, Wembly Stadium, and Sydney Opera House. As well as playing live shows, Nicole records film scores, records, commercials and video games.
Nicole is working with Spiraling Music on Cinema Musique.
Laura Halladay
Flute
Laura Halladay is an elegant and versatile flutist and musician. Her live performances have included orchestra performances at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Ambassador Auditorium, and Schoenberg Hall. Most recently she has been touring with MESTO Orchestra in the middle east, performing in the Jerash Festival in Jordan and at the Cairo Opera House in Egypt. MESTO commissioned a solo work that features her on seven different flutes, recorders and penny whistles. It was performed at Schoenberg Hall in 2009 to a sold out audience and rave reviews. She has been a featured soloist with the Chamber Music Society of California, the American Guitar Society International, and has performed internationally presenting musical styles ranging from ragtime to middle eastern music, chamber music to jazz.
In the recording studio she has recorded on numerous albums with artists such as Linda Ronstadt, (receiving a gold record); harpist Stephanie Bennett; and Angels of Venice on Windham Hill records. Her recorder and ethnic flute playing is heard on many movie soundtracks, particularly featured on “George Lucas in Love”, and the Hallmark film, “The Colt”. In 2007 one of her original compositions was performed with Lion's Pounce Theater in an all original production, to sold out audiences and rave reviews. Her great love of Jazz and ethnic music continues to leads her into new directions which combine elements of dance, new age and world music.
Laura is working with Spiraling Music on the Lullaby Project.
Joseph Hébert
Cellist, Vocalist, Conductor, Composer
Featured artist on Sanctuary and Soyez Gentille.
Joseph Hébert is a versatile artist, at home in musical genres from opera to jazz. An active performer, he is frequently heard in solo and ensemble concerts in the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond, including tours to Japan, Europe, and Hawaii. He is Assistant Principal Cello of the Oakland East Bay Symphony in California, and is Music Director of a 10,000 member church, where he directs multiple choirs. Mr. Hébert is also a voting member of the Grammy Awards Recording Academy.
He has shared the concert stage and recording studio with renowned artists from the classical and popular music worlds including: Carlos Santana, Stevie Wonder, Natalie Cole, Linda Ronstadt, Ray Charles, Harry Connick Jr., Jesse Norman, Marilyn Horne and a host of others. As a member of the Skywalker Symphony Orchestra at George Lucas' Skywalker Ranch, Mr. Hébert has recorded on numerous soundtracks for movies and individual artist/CD projects.
Joseph Hébert served for over 15 years on the faculty of the University of California at Berkeley where he taught ‘cello, conducted the String Ensemble, and directed multiple choruses in the Young Musicians Program; a program that provides music training scholarships to highly gifted disadvantaged Junior High and High School students. Joseph studied music at Stanford University, California State University East Bay (Hayward), and the University of California at Berkeley.
Hebert's solo and improvisational cello talents are featured on hundreds of CD projects including Silver Ship, Bach Improvisations, Shojobo, and Eklektic. He is a featured artist on Spiraling Music's Sanctuary and Soyez Gentille.
Reviews for Joseph Hebert:
Oakland Tribune – "he is one of the most eloquently expressive cellists in the area."
Mainly Piano – “…and Hebert’s soulful cello cuts right to the heart. This piece is worth the price of the CD alone - it’s a knockout!”
Wind & Wire – “Joe Hebert has to be one of the most versatile cellists around…he plays pizzicato on some tracks, making it sound like he is playing bass; then he soars with full-bowed classical treatment.”
Marshall Richards
Tenor
Marshall Richards is a powerful young lyric tenor from Mobile, AL. As a child he developed a deep love for classical music, especially the operas and oratorios of Mozart and Handel. He began his professional singing career at the age of 18, and has pursued classical vocal training ever since, with three universities and the best instructors on the Gulf Coast. Most recently he studied in the studio of Linda Zoghby, famed international and Metropolitan Opera soprano, who describes his voice as "undeniable."
"O Solo Mio"
"Torna a Surriento"
"Jingle Bells "
He has sung with the Mobile Opera, the Mississippi Opera, the Universities of Southern Miss, New Orleans and South Alabama. A winner of numerous awards and scholarships including: The Mobile Opera Developing Artist Program, Mississippi Federated Music Competition and Madame Rose Palmai-Tenser Scholarship, Marshall graduated with a Bachelor of Music with an emphasis in Vocal Performance. He is happy to be in Los Angeles and is currently collaborating with renowned pianist Merrill Collins. He is represented in all areas by Lite 'emz Creative Management Group, 323-309-5402.
Mary Sano
Choreographer
Mary Sano, director of the Mary Sano Studio of Duncan Dancing, is a protegé of Mignon Garland, founder of the Isadora Duncan Heritage Society (IDHS) in San Francisco. A native of Japan, Sano began to study dance with Garland in San Francisco in 1979, and established the Japanese branch of the IDHS in 1983. In the Bay Area, Sano received her MA in Dance from Mills College in 1991.
Continuing her authentic Duncan style dancing, she choreographed and danced in new collaborative works such as KaChoFuGetsu, Toward a Global Ethic, and Rainbow Wish. She has been performing in the Bay Area as well as abroad over a decade. Her performances include a televised dance on NHK, a nationwide broadcast in Japan, and an invited work at the Duncan house inaugural ceremony in Athens, Greece.
The Mary Sano Studio of Duncan Dancing is dedicated to preserving the art of Isadora Duncan, and exploring the contemporary relevance of Duncan's art. Sano teaches, performs internationally, and produces The Dionysian Festival, an annual dance and music event which celebrates Duncan's birthday (May) and A Terpsichorean Celebration (November).
Mary worked with Spiraling Music on the We Agree projects.
Phone/Fax: 415-357-1817
Chris Ray Collins
Drummer/Vocalist/Producer
Chris Ray Collins began performing world music at the age of 5, as part of the Social Awareness via the Arts program at the YMCA. AT the age of 7, he played a leading role in "Everybody's Everybody," a musical written by the children to raise money for children affected by the famine in Ethiopia.
As a young adult, he co-produced We Are Interdependent - ethno-trance dance for the Council for the Parliament of World Religions conference in December, 1999 in Cape Town Africa, where the Artists Toward a Global Ethic presented Gifts of Service to the World. He played a key role in the development of Human Rights for All Creation (the first incarnation of Every Man, Woman, and Child), and Artists Toward a Global Ethic. He is the vocalistand drummer on many of the We the Peoples PSAs, and other Spiraling Music CDs.
Chris Ray now produces environments for productions and events as the owner of Scene 2.
